Lawsuit imminent to stop AZ immigration law

I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d put down at least 5 bucks that sometime this morning a lawsuit will be filed seeking an injunction against Arizona’s new immigration law.

Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the legislation Friday, giving law enforcement in her state the right to question and detain anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. The lawsuit surely will argue that Arizona is usurping the federal government’s role to legislate and enforce immigration laws. And it will contend that the measure will lead to civil rights abuses and racial profiling.

The consequences of Arizona’s tough stand against illegal immigrants have already been significant.

It clearly has awakened President Barack Obama, who took the unusual step of criticizing a state law. Now immigration reform suddenly seems urgent again.

In addition to lawsuits, expect energized marches — similar to what happened in spring 2006 after the Sensenbrenner bill ignited the masses.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and other activists are comparing Arizona’s law to apartheid, Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South. The New York Daily News quotes Sharpton saying they will bring “freedom walkers” to that state.

Meanwhile, some churches are saying they will refuse to help enforce the law.

The Rev. Jim Wallis — a progressive evangelical leader — described the legislation as a “social sin.” (Tell us what you think in poll below.)

In a statement he said that the “radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform.”

The criticism notwithstanding, the people of Arizona have spoken clearly. There was little doubt the bill would pass the state Legislature. Gov. Brewer, up for election this year, would have suffered the wrath of an angry electorate if she hadn’t signed the legislation.

So all this leads me to wonder: Are we on the verge of an explosive summer on the immigration front?

There are laws against being in the country ILLEGALLY. A new law that supposedly gives peace officers the “new right” to ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAWS is such a radical step in this idiotic world that it must of course be overruled by the liberal unelected Federal judiciary in the continuing effort to pander to Balkanized liberal constituencies.

Hey its a start .. At least theyre trying something as opposed to Obama & Co , who refuse to act .. Ofc Obama will grant full amnesty to all before the next election in an attempt to gain votes , so transparant ..

This will be a crucial point in Barack’s presidency. He can either start enforcing the laws of our land and deport these criminals back to where ever they came from and pick up some conservative support; or he can remain the partisan hack that he has proven time and again that he is and try to give these criminals amnesty. That will secure a huge defeat for Democrats in Congress in November and a for sure loss for him in 2012, if he isn’t impeached before then.

How has this law already caused consequences on poor illegal alien criminals. It is a federal crime that they are here any way. It is a federal law that legal immigrants must carry a Residence Card at all times. It is a federal law that Federal, State and Local law enforcement enforce immigration laws.

This is the problem with America, people like you think it is wrong to enforce our laws and right to break our laws. 76% of the people aready favor this law, Rassmusen showed about the same and backs polled showed 75% supported this law.

Have you bothered to take a look at your poll and see how you are in the minority?

There’s nothing wrong with the bill. I have my proper papers and documents whenever I travel out of the USA and I’m more than happy to show them if someone questions my standing in other countries whenever I travel. I also have my birth certificate and several other state issued documents showing I’m a legal resident of the USA. If someone asks, I’ve no issue showing that yes, I do have a right to be here.

I welcome immigration, but there’s a legal way to do so and I expect you to do so. I can only hope that if the Federal Government doesn’t get off their butt and start protecting our borders, more states (specifically Texas since I live here) start giving writing state laws to enforce the FEDERAL law that the FEDERAL government has failed to enforce.

Here is a start, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and California were originally part of Mexico. So lets see, you are going to racially profile people who have been there generations longer than white people? Now thats just funny. Its even funnier that Americans forget that this nation is one of five, British (east coast), French (middle), Spanish (west), Russian (Alaska), and Asian (Hawaii). Not to mention the natives who were here first!

You are going to racially discriminate people who have been here longer than the Brits! Now this is just too funny.

What does an illegal look like? No one has answered that question. And please don’t say Hispanic and speaks only Spanish, because the same can be said of a caucasian who speaks only French. I’m all for immigration reform but to stop and question people just because they look a certain way is wrong. And the tea-partiers say Obama is stripping us of our rights. No, it’s the Republicans. Ah the slippery slope!

The liberal talking points are hilarious as usual. Ignore the fact that Arizona passed a state law mirroring the existing federal law so they can enforce said law, and just call everyone a racist, bigot, Jim Crow supporter, Nazi sympathizer, etc, etc.

ILLEGAL is just that illegal. How difficult is it to keep an ID card or some form of identification on your person?

One of the letters on here found it “funny” that we were “racially discriminating” against people who have been here longer than the Brits.That’s not the issue. The issue is that you have gangs ,criminals ,drug smuggling etc coming across many times daily. Innocent people all along the border are losing their lives ,being raped ,robbed.Nothing “funny” about a law that tries at least to prevent that.It you are legal ,you have nothing to worry about!There is not one thing wrong with that bill.

You are going to racially discriminate people who have been here longer than the Brits! Now this is just too funny.

Posted by: spitze at April 26, 2010 07:57 AM

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What’s funny is how you got racial discrimination out of this bill. This bill targets illegal immigrants, not hispanic citizens. Barack’s aunt is an illegal immigrant still here in the U.S. living off of the tax payer’s dime, she’s not hispanic. And if they are illegal immigrants, no they haven’t been here longer than anyone.

The liberals are out again making judgments about the bill and enforcement without ever reading the thing. As usual. The law specifically prohibits officials from using race alone in order to question people about their status. If the liberals actually read the new law, they wouldn’t have a factual leg to stand on. Instead, as usual, they will stand back and scream racism.

The governor of the once sovereign state of Arizona and law enforcement throughout that state have a sworn duty to protect its citizens. They swear an oath to do it. The swarms of illegal aliens in communities across Arizona are robbing, raping and murdering the legal citizens of that state so to demand that law enforcement of every strip do what they’ve sworn to do, is both logical and totally legal.

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Houston should be no different. Illegal aliens are everywhere in this city and in plain sight. It shouldn’t be that difficult to simply round them up, keep them in jail on bread and water for a couple of weeks and ship their sorry butts south. Schools, hospitals and apartment owners should be required under penalty of law to turn them in to authorities. The same authorities who have sworn a solemn oath to obey the Constitution and protect us from all enemies foreign and domestic. These invaders are our enemy.

I understand why people might want this kind of rule. The problem I have is that no one has the balls to go after the people enabling these immigrants. They would not be here unless people are giving them jobs. We all know who picks our produce and processes all the meat at our grocery store. Why don’t they ever raid one of these places. The Walmarts and the Tysons of the world make sure with their lobbyists that production is not affected. So the very same politicians that are pushing a strong stance on immigration are the ones that make sure this vicious cycle will continue.

Most of the commenters ignore the fact that portions of this law are blatantly unconstitutional. There will be a federal court injunction issued in the very near future. You cannot have cops stopping people on the suspicion they might be illegal immigrants. Remember that Constitution you all claim to love and hold so dear?

The thing with this law that is totally wrong is that for instance in my case. I was born here Im actually half white half hispanic, but I look more hispanic than anything. So its ok for a cop and treat me like a criminal because of my skin color. That within it self is a step back from all of the major movements in the 60′s and 70′s against racism. Its dumb idiotic and very close minded. I agree that there is a problem with Illegal immigrants but that is not the answer its only going to bring more cases and law suits for abuse and racially profiling….Thats my two cents wether you like it or not.

This will be a crucial point in Barack’s presidency. He can either start enforcing the laws of our land and deport these criminals back to where ever they came from and pick up some conservative support; or he can remain the partisan hack that he has proven time and again that he is and try to give these criminals amnesty. That will secure a huge defeat for Democrats in Congress in November and a for sure loss for him in 2012, if he isn’t impeached before then.

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for what reason do you think the President should be impeached? what crime did he commit? once again you right wing nutcases are spewing garbage from the mouth…this immigration law is asanine. the door has been opened to question all hispanics in that state whether they are illegal or not? this is nothing but racial profiling

I can think of only a few ways to enforce this constitutionally, and none of them are practical.

Any enforcement mechanism must be blind to race, language-speaking ability, religion, politics, or anything else other than a particular reasonable suspicion that a particular person is not allowed to be in this country.

Here are some ways enforcement can be done without being unconstitutional:

*Announce one or more “target enforcement areas” such as employment or people arrested and booked into jail.

*For each person found in a “targeted enforcement action,” demand “papers please.”

What this might mean if applied to people arrested:

*Everyone arrested would be placed on a state “legal status” hold until they could prove they were a US citizen, legal resident, or here on a legal visa.

*The state would have to hold a hearing if the person claimed to be legal but could not prove it. The state would then have to either prove they were illegal, let them go, or if federal immigration was willing to take over the case, turn it over to federal immigration.

*Tourists would have to be reminded to carry proof of US citizenship or residency or their passports when traveling in Arizona, so if they are arrested they don’t get caught on a “legal status” hold. This annoyance would hurt tourism.

*Some US citizens never had a birth certificate, never worked, don’t have a Social Security card, and never voted. Some of them might not even speak English. They may have a hard time proving their citizenship.

This would get very expensive very quick and would be very annoying to citizens who are legal but who didn’t have a birth certificate, passport, voter-registration card, border-crossing card, social security card, or other proof of citizenship on their person.

Instead of doing this to all arrested people, you could to it to all people arrested for felonies, or you could do it to a *random* selection of arrested people.

Oh, and you would have to make sure you didn’t arrest people in a way that was racially or otherwise discriminatory, or a judge would throw out the use of arrestees as a “target enforcement areas,” saying it was just a cover for discriminatory enforcement of the no-illegal-alien law.

Bottom line: If Arizona is serious about enforcing this, the enforcement will be very uncomfortable to a lot of legal residents and it will hurt tourism.

Some federal judge will issue a judgement the law is un-constitutional and it will be stooped just like the prop. in California was stopped about 12 years ago. The bottom line is to lure Mexicans to vote democratic.

While i do agree that something drastic needs to be done about illegal immigration, giving police too much authority is not the answer.

Posted by: Abraxas

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There is little difference between the law that the State of Arizona passed and what is already on the books at the Fed. level. The main difference being, that at the State level the law may actually be enforced. Arizona law enforcement KNOWS that it will be under a microscope from every human, and civil rights group on the planet. I am more than certain that any perceived abuses will be minimal.

The police are the only viable option for enforcing immigration laws, the Federal authorities do not have the resources to send these folks back to their countries. This is not the first time in our history illegal Mexican nationals were sent back, FDR, Truman and Eisenhower all expelled illegal national to make room for returning troops and because of the depression, it is just time again. And it did not impact the freedom of legal Mexican Americans so do not believe the propaganda it is bad for Hispanics.

Do you know what this is look like? It’s look like a communist country that you despised of. Where citizens have to show the residency documents where ever they go. To be honest, how many of you carry your birth certificate or citizen certificate when you travel in the country? Imagine when a racist Hispanic cop in AZ pull a person over and ask for proof of citizenship because that person look like an undocumented from Canada?

The Houston Chronicle demonizes this immigration law every chance they get, citing mainly sources who oppose it, while reality is that the majority of American Citizens are very excited to finally see a state that is taking action against these criminals. What gives, Chronicle? I guess you guys have illegal aliens working on your staff too. It’s truly shameful.

What does an illegal look like? No one has answered that question. And please don’t say Hispanic and speaks only Spanish, because the same can be said of a caucasian who speaks only French. I’m all for immigration reform but to stop and question people just because they look a certain way is wrong. And the tea-partiers say Obama is stripping us of our rights. No, it’s the Republicans. Ah the slippery slope!

Posted by: cougartino at April 26, 2010 08:00 AM

Note to cougarino, the French and other europeans are not swarming our borders by the millions, they have to get on a plane/boat to get here, they are not the problem.

As far as some Latinos being here before the Brits, I’m pretty sure that by now, they speak ENGLISH.

When my grandparents came over here from Europe, they had to carry papers, they had to report in and get their green card renewed every year, they had to learn English to get a job, why is it so difficult and racial to do so now?

I don’t care if half of Mexico comes here, as long as they do it LEGALLY.

for what reason do you think the President should be impeached? what crime did he commit? once again you right wing nutcases are spewing garbage from the mouth…this immigration law is asanine. the door has been opened to question all hispanics in that state whether they are illegal or not? this is nothing but racial profiling

Posted by: DARRELL at April 26, 2010 08:14 AM

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I disagree that the police will racial profile every Hispanic, if the police pull me over I do not have nothing to hide. I believe this will legitimize the Hispanic people as a whole rather than being viewed as a race of criminals.

The main criticism is that people will be profiled–pulled over or arrested for what they look like. However, suspicion of being an illegal alien does not mean “based on looks.”

If a police officer engages a person (such as when pulling him over), and he does not speak English, does not have a valid driver’s license, does not have valid insurance, etc., then the law would take effect. This law should not be used to initiate contact (in the same way that a cop should not pull you over for suspicion of not having insurance). If a cop does that, then he is out of line and is not suited to be a cop.

Many laws can be APPLIED inappropriately, but that does not make them unconstitutional. Care is needed to make sure rights & protections are maintained, but that does not require non-enforcement or repeal of law.

I’ll take your bet; metaphorically, since gambling is illegal in TX. I seriously doubt that anyone has yet been inconvenienced by an Arizona law enforcement officer asking their immigration status. Why? The AZ law doesn’t go into effect for 90 after the signing. Since no single individual has yet been required to obey the law, no-one has legal standing to bring the lawsuit. None of the so-called advocacy groups would have legal standing because they are not directly effected by the law’s provisions. They could file suit on behalf of an idividual, but then there’s that 90 day wait for the law to go into effect again.

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BTW, the federal government and states have numerous instances of state laws duplicating federal law, i.e. bank robbery, kidnapping, etc. No-one has ever challenged those in court, so you’d have a hard time arguing that the AZ law requiring that their LEOs exercising the enforcement of federal immigration law as contained in Title 8 CFR 287 is anything different. To do so, would set a precedent for setting aside those other laws as well. Imagine the choas of only the feds responding to bank robberies in progress with their more limited personnel resources. You also have the major problem that the federal law already defines law enforcement officials who are empowered to make arrests under Title 8 as including all 3 levels, “federal, state, or local.”

The only useful outcome of this bill is that it will force the federal government to act. In the meantime, while I oppose illegal immigration, enforcement of this new AZ law will discriminate against Hispanic American citizens and legal immigrants of Hispanic origin. It is racial profiling, and nothing but. The governor’s responses as to how this law will be enforced were pathetic. Her answer to what an illegal immigrant looks like was outright stupid. She knows what this bill is and signed it to stay in office. The spirit of the law, to force illegals out, is valid and true. The claim that it will not result in racial profiling is a lie.

The US Government has clearly shown that they will not enforce existing laws not protect our borders. I have no problem with people wanting to make a better life for themselves, but you have to do it in a planned and orderly manner (legal immigration). You cannot overload the system or it will be useless to everyone. Arizona is doing what our government should be doing for us. I applaud their efforts.

Your fear first put the American indian in reservations, then you put the Japanese in concentration camps, and now you want to put the Mexicans in a situation that you control and deport them. Bola de pendejos!!

Are Federal laws regarding immigration civil or criminal? If people are really upset by illegal entry into the U.S. they can just boycott all businesses who employ illegal immigrants. Problem solved. Nothing involved other than where you spend your money.

Since DC isn’t going to protect the citizens of this country from this violent invading force, it is up to the States to do so. It’s about freaking time! Now, let’s get the others to do the same and let mexico know that their citizens are not welcome to come illegally.

Anybody with a problem with this law is either an illegal or harboring which gives you no say in what we do. The graphic FAIL of DC to do anything is literally killing people in the streets. But they were more concerned with giving people a piece of paper than seeing that they would be alive to use insurance. Hussein sure better read the Constitution before inserting his foot in his mouth yet again. The States have the mandate to do what the Fed won’t. Since the Fed thinks Americans being slaughtered in the streets in fine, the States will have to do their job! Come on November!

Boy…….if ever there was a trap for Republicans this one is it and of course, being the rocket scientists they are…….they’ll fall for it hook line and sinker and then wonder why they didn’t do any better in the fall elections.

What does an illegal look like? No one has answered that question. And please don’t say Hispanic and speaks only Spanish, because the same can be said of a caucasian who speaks only French. I’m all for immigration reform but to stop and question people just because they look a certain way is wrong. And the tea-partiers say Obama is stripping us of our rights. No, it’s the Republicans. Ah the slippery slope!

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Well, lets see, out here in Spring Branch, you could be pretty sure by the huge gangs of them that do not speak a word of english, or the stickers are all expired on their vehicles, or they have 5 or so cars parked up in the lawn, or they sit out in the front yard all weekend cooking a whole pig playing mexican music at deafening levels, and throwing their trash in the neioghbors yard, or they might be the one urinating on your lawn or driving through the neighborhood, throwing diapers and beer bottles or fast food trash out the window of their blue corollas. They might be the ones standing at the school bus stop, with three getting on the bus, two toddling, one in their arms and one in a stroller, they might be the ones in Kroger with no less than five or six kids and the lone star card handy, also not speaking a word of english. They might be the guys trashing out the parking lots while they wait on some criminal american to come hire them for the day, they are for sure the ones who have no idea what a garbage can or a toilet are for. All this has nothing to do with the color of their skin, it is behavior and if they were white as the driven snow, I would want them gone, my granddaugher told me once, you can’t not help how you feel, but you can help how you behave.

I cannot believe that our president and his gang of henchmen can continue to sit on their butts and allow our country to be invaded. Nope, dumbchits it ain’t about racism it is about national security and the dictators that are trying to wipe their rears with our constitution. This ultrasocialist and his minions should be charged with high treason and hung on the whitehouse lawn!

Way to go Arizona, To all you Liberals, name any other country where you can crash the border and walk around freely without papers, then claim Racism if somebody dares to ask you for proof you belong there.

The issue I have with it is that it puts the burden of proof on the individual.

This isn’t like proving you have auto insurance where, if you don’t have the card with you, you can get a ticket and then the judge dismisses it. If you get hauled in because someone thinks you’re an illegal immigrant, you have to find a way to prove you’re here legally before they’ll release you AND pay rent in that holding cell.

Do we need immigration reform or do we need current immigration law enforced? Since the current laws have never been enforce, we do not know what the result would be. Why do a reform bill if immigration laws are not going to be enforced?

Conservatives have lost all hope for individual rights and liberty. Where did you lose your way?

The law requires police to stop anyone on “reasonable suspicion” of being an undocumented immigrant. Who gives them the special training to discern a Cuban-American born in Idaho versus a Caucasian-Canadian living here illegally? The issue doesn’t help immigration. Is that really the world you want to live in? Police having an iron hand with permission to stop and search anyone they deem “fit”?

There are many, many illegal people in the USA who are not hispanic, no one will ask them for immigration status. Is this fair?

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I do not believe you will find 20 or so million illegal aliens from anywhere but Mexico, the other illegals are smart enough to learn english, and at least try to fit in, they do not go through a neighborhood and destroy it from the bottom up, they are not in the streets demanding we take care of them from the cradle to the grave. If the mexicans were not so filthy and badly behaved, they would not be drawing so much attention to themselves across the nation, but they are speading all across the nation bringing destruction with them and people notice, dud, they need to go home and start at the end of the line like people all across the world have to do, allowing illegals the right to stay here just because they managed to swim across and make it to a city so they could start dropping anchors, is a slap in the face to the rest of the world and honest people willing to come here correctly, stand in line, pay their fees and try to fit in, not change us to their low way of life.

Mostly everyone leaving opposing comments are morons. No one seems to put themselves in a illegals shoes. They are going to keep coming because there are jobs available. If you really wanted to end illegal immigration, you should put anyone who hired an undocumented worker right in jail. But that isn’t the point, is it?

What does an illegal look like? No one has answered that question. And please don’t say Hispanic and speaks only Spanish, because the same can be said of a caucasian who speaks only French. I’m all for immigration reform but to stop and question people just because they look a certain way is wrong. And the tea-partiers say Obama is stripping us of our rights. No, it’s the Republicans. Ah the slippery slope!

Posted by: cougartino at April 26, 2010 08:00 AM

Um, nowhere does it say they can pull over someone just because of their skin color.

Me, personally, would just tell the land owners adjacent to the borders to put up signs “tresspassers will be shot on sight” and setup some deer stands and just start shooting, eventually the illegals will get the point.

Mostly everyone leaving opposing comments are morons. No one seems to put themselves in a illegals shoes. They are going to keep coming because there are jobs available. If you really wanted to end illegal immigration, you should put anyone who hired an undocumented worker right in jail. But that isn’t the point, is it?

Posted by: Daniel Hinojosa

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That’s a real stand up comment. Thanks for those words to enlighten us all.

Do you think that enforcement advocates don’t already KNOW this, or don’t WANT to put a stop to it? If so, then I guess we know who the real “moron” is….

I agree that the states have to enforce their own laws. This is a political hot potato issue. The Democrats want their votes and the Republicans want the so called cheap labor (I have first hand knowledge that many illegals make more than I do in comparable jobs.) So both parties have ignored this problem for 50 years. Even to the point that will ignore existing Federal law to protect its legal citiizens from invasion of another country. This must be stopped now as we are already well on our way to third world status. Unfortunately, the majority of Hispanics do not finish high school. (Check HISD if you don’t believe me.) They refuse to assimilate to our laws, culture, etc. They won’t learn English and will only patronize their own stores if they have a choice. These are not patriotic citizens to be. They want TX to once again become Mexico. Many of them will even tell you this because they know they are here in such numbers, if they get the right to vote, they will me the majority and will control this country. It’s amazes me how when that happens they will have the laws on their side. But now, before that happens, our elected officials ignore existing law in letting them come here illegally. Now is the time for the states to enact laws to eliminate this invasion. I fear if they don’t there is going to be bloodshed. And because what my ancestors, etc. so I can have what I have in the US, I may just be one in the militia that will defend, with force, what I am priviledged enough to have. This is not prejudice or discrimination. I was taught to obey the laws and I want everyone else to do the same. And I will have no problem carrying my birth certificate or any other paperwork on my person to prove my citizenship. Then they can’t scream profiling, etc. If all are subject to the same laws (once again), the playing field is level. I can only hope common sense and right will prevail.

This will continue to marginalize an existing underclass. Think they will be more or less likely to trust the police or first responders in the future? Crime rates may decline, but only because reported crimes will decline.

While I do agree with the general purpose of the law, the language is overtly racial. I am surprised Arizona did not declare that all people coming in contact with the police must have their residency status verified. Seems like that would have firmly stopped any of the racial/civil rights challenges.

Simple answer to immigration reform: Put people, ceo’s of companies, etc. in jail if they hire illegals. No exceptions. Everyone, white, black, brown, yellow has to have a national id card with immigration status. To be hired, you have to have one.

If there are no jobs to be had here, they won’t come.

Myself, I don’t care if they come here, illegal or not. 90% of the one’s who come are just trying to provide for their families. They are not a burden. Some pay witholding taxes, social security and medicare taxes. All pay sales taxes, gasoline taxes, tobacco and alcohol taxes, and property taxes (indirectly if they rent). And most are trying to fly under the radar, so they make few claims on our schools or welfare systems. They don’t draw social security.

Yes being an illegal immigrant is of course illegal but I think what most people are arguing is that it will cause racial profiling of legal, american citizens that are of Mexican or latino descent. Should I carry my birth certificate that says I was born in Houston just because I’m of Mexican descent when I travel to AZ on business. My actions or my appearance will not be enough to tell you or any law enforcement official that I am legal or illegal. This is the wrong way to enforce the law. If you want to eliminate illegal immigrants go door to door and have “everyone” prove their legal status. Not just me because I’m of Mexican descent. This isn’t progress.

Visit any other country in this world and you had better have your passport with you, and any other papers to prove you have a right to be in that country. I am sick to death about the crime the illegal aliens bring to this country, and I am sick to death that I have to pay for their medical expenses and their children’s education where they get a free ride. Give them amnesty and I bet you NONE of them will opt to be legal.

don’t give me this BS about violating the rights of Hispanics……this situation is analagous to the hassle at the airport……my rights are being violated at the airport because we refuse to profile Middle Easteners and Muslims……so deal with it!!!!!the illegals are bankrupting this country and they are violating MY rights. I am sick and tired of listening to Hispanic groups whining about this issue… No more free school, welfare, anchor babies, gang thugs, drug cartels, punch ’1′ for English, etc. They don’t recognize our borders, our language, or our culture! No mas!!!!!!!

churches have become irrelevant. especially when they enter politics. churches siding with illegals says it all. and my family has belonged to the same church for 325 years. it too has succumbed to pandering to anyone if they’ll just put something in the collection plate.

I haven’t read the bill or no any details about it. Maybe it is too tough, but something needed to be done to get Washingon off their duffs to do something about illegal immigration. It is a real problem for the states bordering Mexico. I don’t really see the racial profiling dilemma, if you are an American and have the identification to prove it, you don’t have a problem. Tough times call for tough measures. What is so hard about carrying around a legal ID??? Some of you are just lazy!

The DRUG TRADE would end TODAY is American stopped consuming the drugs. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION would end TODAY is Americans quit hiring these folks to take advantage of cheap labor. We must quit speaking out of both sides of our mouths.

The Arizona law simply mirrors federal laws that are not being enforced. When it comes to borders the constitution says that the federal government is supposed to protect the borders. It also says that states can do so when the federal governemnt fails in its duty.

These are good news for all the people who refuse to open their eyes and see what’s coming. Many think that the AZ governor is doing the right thing…Somehow she is, but the outcome of those actions will be completely different to what most people are expecting and hoping for. This was the little spark needed to start the fire, that’s what the government needed to push the CIR, think about it…

Matt – you nailed it perfectly. I have my papers, too, and am not afraid to show them upon request. Those that are afraid probably don’t have papers. If they are here illegally, they need to be deported, plain and simple.

Wow Chronicle 66% are in favor. Now If I work for the Chronicle I would support the Republicans on this issue. Remember your the only major newspaper in the U.S. to have never won a Pulitzer Prize. Also why can’t they be stop and ask for paper work. Are you required to keep the passport on you at all times while you are in a different country? As a American Citizen I am required to have some sort of I.D. on myself at all times. Charge the Mexican govt 1,000k for every illegal alien we capture in the United States. Better yet we just need to make Mexico the 51st State.

Our federal government has failed in every possible way to find a solution to the immigration problems facing our country. That being said, Arizona’s new law most assuredly is NOT the answer to illegal immigration — I question the law’s constitutionality and besides, it’s a piece of legislation written in fear and rage that, if put into practice, will only promote more fear and rage.

The only good I can possibly see coming out of the passage of this law is that maybe, at long last, our elected officials will wake up, man up, and find a way to protect our borders while also allowing hard-working, decent people who just want to make a better life for themselves into this country quickly, efficiently, and legally.

I sincerely hope that President Obama will make immigration reform the next issue of his presidency…and I hope he succeeds. It truly doesn’t matter that I disagree with 80% of what he does — fixing our immigration system has to be a priority for our elected officials.

I definitely favor any enforcement of our nations laws. The issue is whether AZ has the law enforcement resources to really do anything more than what the federal government or the local and state law enforcementis already doing. The way the law is written only reasonable effort is required, which is a very low threshold to meet. This law in my opinion is very weak. It doesn’t provide more resources or extend any new authorities than local and state law enforcement already have to address the problem.

You people need to learn how to read. No where does the bill say that police will stop people to ask them for their ‘papers’. It says that police will be able to ask for ID IF the person is stopped or detained. There’s a difference. If you’re illegal you shouldn’t be driving a car anyway.

Like Betty I also live in Spring branch and she hit the nail on the head. We are dealing with all the same things she mentioned in our neighborhood and I’m sick and tired of it. They have no respect for rules or common decency and in addition to all the things she mentioned their kids wander the neighborhood unsupervised and steal packages off people’s porches.

That’s very interesting considering this law doesn’t give anyone any power what so ever.

The police already had the authority to question people about thier legal status in this country. Actually what this law does is define WHEN they can ask such questions. If you actually read it, you will find that they can’t randomly ask people if they are illegal or not.

Let me see if I got this straight? When I want to transact business, I am asked to show a valid ID, such as drivers licence, social security card, sometimes credit card….how do these people who are entering this nation illegally rent an apartment, or drive a car, or get treated at emergency room? Must they not show proof of who they are, or is that just reserved for the law abiding citizen like me? When my ancestors immigrated to this great country, they had to have sponsors who vouched to support them until they were employed. Let these illegals go to the end of the line and come into this country the legal way…and stop the hand outs once they arrive. When you enter a country illegally, you are breaking the law…that makes you a criminal.

What rules apply to these people? If you ask them, none! They already broke one law and if they don’t respect that one what possible reason would I have to care about their being inconvienced by showing ID. As for the people who will be inconvienced due to skin color, I’m sorry for your trouble. It wont take long to ship a few hundred thousand back south of the border and the issue will be all but over for you.

Arizona has a great start, but it only has a third of a proper enforcement strategy in place. It is not enough to question immigration status where the need arises, there also needs to be proactive sweeps and raids on places where illegals gather and stay, and also strong punishment against people that employ illegals.

The bill is unconstitutional on its face. Passing the bill will only cost the state of Arizona millions in legal fees as a challenge of it is fruitlessly appealed up the chain of courts. You can’t single out a single group, based on race or ethnic origin, for differential treatment (ie requiring one group to keep proof of their status on them at all times) or eliminate probable cause to stop and search a person based on their race.

67% strongly favor as of this writing. The interesting fact (and one not published by this paper) is that this law in AZ is modeled exclusively on Federal law, but scaled to fit the State’s need. Federal law that is under-funded and under-enforced. The message is clear that if the Fed would simply do the job they are hired to do (oh, sorry, that notion has fallen out of favor in recent years as well) in the first place, none of this uproar would be necessary.

This will be a crucial point in Barack’s presidency. He can either start enforcing the laws of our land and deport these criminals back to where ever they came from and pick up some conservative support; or he can remain the partisan hack that he has proven time and again that he is and try to give these criminals amnesty. That will secure a huge defeat for Democrats in Congress in November and a for sure loss for him in 2012, if he isn’t impeached before then.

Posted by: OIF VET at April 26, 2010 07:51 AM

OIF, that’s where you are wrong. My wife is a conservative Hispanic with a lot of conservative Hispanic family and friends. Almost all of them are so offended by this legislation that they plan on supporting Bill White. And that’s just the beginning.

Arizona may have just woken up a sleeping giant in the Hispanic vote and turned it almost entirely to the Democrat’s side.

The bill is unconstitutional on its face. Passing the bill will only cost the state of Arizona millions in legal fees as a challenge of it is fruitlessly appealed up the chain of courts. You can’t single out a single group, based on race or ethnic origin, for differential treatment (ie requiring one group to keep proof of their status on them at all times) or eliminate probable cause to stop and search a person based on their race.

Yes being an illegal immigrant is of course illegal but I think what most people are arguing is that it will cause racial profiling of legal, american citizens that are of Mexican or latino descent. Should I carry my birth certificate that says I was born in Houston just because I’m of Mexican descent when I travel to AZ on business.

Posted by: Erik at April 26, 2010 09:09 AM

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Show them your drivers license. That’s what they ask for, not your birth certificate.

Let us remember that Bush JR wanted to allow them all to stay too. And even though Rick Perry will threaten to secede over health care he has not done a DAMN THING to close up the border.

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I am a Democrat and I applaud Arizona for passing this law. This is one of those few things where it is not a LEFT issue or a RIGHT issue it is an AMERICAN issue. We need to secure our country and soon.

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My wife immigrated from Canada and her and I both find that people who are here illegally is just like a slap in the face for those of us who did it the legal way.

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Ticks me off for hispanics to cry out “oh it is racial profiling my rights will be violated”

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Well every time I go to the airport I have to take off my shoes and belt and have my laptop swabbed for explosives and I surely do not look like a Muslim terrorist. But I do it. So shutup and show your license if an officer asks you to just like you would if he asked you for any other reason.

“”"Hey its a start .. At least theyre trying something as opposed to Obama & Co , who refuse to act .. Ofc Obama will grant full amnesty to all before the next election in an attempt to gain votes , so transparant ..

While I do agree with the general purpose of the law, the language is overtly racial. I am surprised Arizona did not declare that all people coming in contact with the police must have their residency status verified. Seems like that would have firmly stopped any of the racial/civil rights challenges.

What will happen when they deport the first American citizen?

Posted by: Nate at April 26, 2010 09:09 AM

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Nothing in this law states police officers or the state are deporting anyone? Immigration officials will take care of that.

I kind of find it funny about all the comments here. Police already arrest illegals and call INS if they suspect the person is here illegally and it’s INS who will deport them if need be. OH that’s illegals from any country in the world that are here in any state in this country. Of course there is an entire legal process before someone is deported. We still have this thing called due process.

Another thing I find funny is anyone can be arrested by police for pretty much any reason in the world. Of cource to hold you they have to charge you and after they charge you they have to prove your guilt through our legal system.

If your here legally you have nothing to fear. You already have the necessary documentation you can show to police. Of course if your not here legally than you do have something to fear. We all have to have proper documentation to drive here legally. Why not to live here legally?

What has the government done? Put up a partial “fence” that the illegals crawl over and come in anyway. If they are here illegally, then something should be done. The states are taking matters into their own hands.

Heyzeus, that’s nice and all but if you actually read the law, instead of just claiming racism and discrimination like all your lib buddies, you would notice this line: A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY NOT SOLELY CONSIDER RACE, COLOR OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ARIZONA CONSTITUTION.

The “results” of this and other polls are unscientific and only samples a small minority of the population. Each state cannot start passing immigration laws because soon we are going have 50 different ways of dealing with one issues. The federal government needs to address this issue. I strongly oppose this and I’m not an illegal immigrant. This legislation is attacking our civil liberties. I do agree though that something has to be done but this is not it.

There are laws against being in the country ILLEGALLY. A new law that supposedly gives peace officers the “new right” to ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAWS is such a radical step in this idiotic world that it must of course be overruled by the liberal unelected Federal judiciary in the continuing effort to pander to Balkanized liberal constituencies.

______________________________________

It is one thing to enfore laws that punish those who enter this county illegally, it is a totally different thing to have a law that discriminates against people who are brown, or dress a certain way as one senator said law enforcement would identify an illegal by. I would be pissed if I was asked for my papers because I have a spanish name and believe me, I would raise HELL!!!!

Furthermore, lets gets real, this country operates the way that it does because Capitalism works by screwing a less priveledged group. In this case, the existing laws punish illegals. The existing laws are not enforced on those who profit from hiring illegals, rather many of these corporations/companies hire illegals then get ICE to remove them so that they dont have to pay them and then they go back to hiring more illegals.

THIS IS MADNESS. ILLEGALS ARE NOT THE REASON FOR ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS! WAKE UP!

Wow, just WOW, despite numerous links showing the vast majority of Americans DO agree with the Chron readers’ poll results, the fact that NO WHERE does this law require those stopped to provide “papers”, or that even the “progressive pastor’s” claims that numerous laws are violated by this law without ONE single example ofit, people here refuse to acknowledge that this law is EXACTLY what our FEDERAL gpvernment is SUPPOSED to be doing. The only leg they can stand on is that this isn’t really the states’ job. Obviously it is legal otherwise and court challenges will only show once again that our Federal government is more interested in the special groups’ interests than the American peoples’. And people wonder why the Tea Parties are growing exponentially.

You people yapping about unconstitutional haven’t read the Constitution. Nothing in there prohibiting police from briefly asking questions. This is not about search and seizure.

Police are not going to be stopping anyone and asking for papers because of how they look. That’s an irrational fear being used as propaganda. What will happen is in the course of interacting with citizens during a routine traffic stop or responding to an accident or investigating a crime, the police determine that there is probable cause that a person is illegal, then he can verify that. There are many factors that could serve as an indicator and it could be required to meet three or more of them so that any one factor alone (i.e. inability to speak English) would be insufficient.

Any Hispanic citizen that feels he was stopped soley because of his brown skin has the same civil recourse as any black who feels they were stopped for “DWB”.

Thie new law mirrors federal law.It gives Arizona city,county,and state police the ability to enforce a state law that is pretty much the same as the federal law that is being ignored.Nothing like enforcing the law to make law breakers squeal.

This is a great law if you’re white. God help you in Arizona if you’re not. People who are legal citizens, who are born in the United States but do not look Caucasian may as well be carrying all their legal documents with them to avoid being arrested and harassed by the Arizona Local Law Enforcement Community. Perhaps we do need a National ID system stating all relevant facts about one’s personal life – Citizenship, Race, Religion. Perhaps we do need to separate the legal from the illegal. Perhaps we do need to legislate and cleanse America from people who are deemed politically illegal. Perhaps it’s time we accept that those who want this are nothing but good old fashioned Fascists.

The problem with this Bill is that there is no way to prevent fringing on Americans rights. You all need to understand the problem with this bill. There is no way to tell the difference between an illegal hispanic and a American hispanic. That is the problem. Understand the facts before all the Repubs type their messages. You can not tell the difference. They will violate Americans rights and not care. You might not care because it will not be happening to you. The govenment will spend even more money fighting civil rights law suites. You first need to stop at the boarder than start inside then out. It is just backwards.

Come on Chron.com! you are asking people from Texas how they feel about this? are you serious?! I’m surprise that “hang ‘em” wasn’t an answer choice. The main reason why this is a bad idea is that they will profile people when they do rutine stops. they will only ask people with a Latin last name for prove of residency and that’s is profiling and last time i checked profiling is illegal. Now, if profiling wasn’t illegal then there will be nothing wrong with having law enforcement officers to do immigration work. Plus, the vast majority of this officers are White with no college education and they will bring their own personal bias against Latinos. Lets be honest here, this is not an anti illegal immigrants law, this is an anti Mexicans law. They will stop this law once legal people with last names such as Martinez and Gonzalez, who don’t speak a bit of Spanish who are US born, are being stop and ask for immigration status and they will file complain and law suits. We have a big department to deal with illegal immigration and that’s ICE and Homoeland Security.

What do you mean that aliens are required to carry their documents with them at all times????

(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties

Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

The problem with this Bill is that there is no way to prevent fringing on Americans rights. You all need to understand the problem with this bill. There is no way to tell the difference between an illegal hispanic and a American hispanic. That is the problem. Understand the facts before all the Repubs type their messages. You can not tell the difference. They will violate Americans rights and not care. You might not care because it will not be happening to you. The govenment will spend even more money fighting civil rights law suites. You first need to stop at the boarder than start inside then out. It is just backwards.

Posted by: sheldon at April 26, 2010 10:54 AM

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How do you tell the difference between an illegal Croatian and a legal Croatian?

While I have mixed feelings about this law, to call it fascist or compare Arizona to Nazi Germany is either ignorant or anti-semitic. The only comparable situation is if America (or Arizona) stripped citizenship from all those of Hispanic ancestory. Being required to have citizenship is not the same as having your citizenship taken away.

Since Houston and Texas function as Sanctuaries for the ILLEGALS we should be prepared for more ILLEGALS; of course we don’t seem to have enough jobs for all of our ILLEGALS now wondering the streets looking for trouble. I can see our Houston and Texas ILLEGALS wanting the borders of TEXAS defended from the ARIZONA ILLEGALS!

If Sweeden were the country below us and tall, blondes were illegally coming across our borders, I would be stopped and ask to prove my citizenship. And I don’t have a problem one with that. It’s not a Mexican thing. It’s a legal, sucking off our system thing.

I think this issue needs addressed and solutions reached in the best interest of everyone. It sounded like this law is just racists. You can’t have our citizens being pulled over and targetted and given disparent treatment based on their race. This is setting a dangerous predicence. If you want to lean on illegal immigration then you best do it in a way that doesn’t interfere with US citizens and that is what this does. Shame on them. The only reason making reasonable immigration laws is so hard to do is because of the decades our government has done nothing. If this law leaves having brown skin as a reasonable cause then it is an abomination.

Even though I realize initially SB 1070 will place an additional burden on the rest of the States as the ILLEGALS leave Arizona and deplete even more of the resources of these states, the remaining state’s legislators will hopefully be forced to implement laws the same as SB 1070 to protect their CITIZENS.

You can not wait for the Federal Government to take ACTION, the struggle against ILLEGALS will have to be fought at the State and Local level if and until the Federal Government decides to Secure our Borders and Enforce our Immigration Laws!

I hope SB 1070 can get the ball rolling at the State level and lead the way to immigration sanity for the other Governors and Save our Nation from the Elitist Politicians and their Special Interest Groups!

Let me see, at airport in last month I fit the ‘profile’ and once was felt up and down and wanded, and next time my baggage arrived at destination having tape all over it, as it had to be inspected. I was going to a funeral.

After brain surgery, one side of my husbands face was quite distorted, and he, sitting in a wheel chair, had to be felt up and down and wanded…what a farce-all at IAH as we were properly dressed in business attire…as a blue eyed blond, I obviously fit the profile of a terrorist. Gladly will I do this if the illegals have to do likewise. They all scream discrimination, but I do not have the time to ”march with the hyphonated illegals” to protest ”my indignity”. Something in my life, called ‘work’ keeps me from doing that.

Why do some Hispanics who are United States Citizens desire to partner themselves with criminal ILLEGALS? I would think any U.S. Citizens would want to distance themselves from the ILLEGALS! Could it be just the so called “Hispanics Leadership(?)” fabricating a play for power and of course money always the money! Do all United States Citizens of any other heritage want to protect ILLEGALS who are in the United States as ILLEGALS from their heritage? The answer is NO except for only the individuals that would benefit economically from the ILLEGALS or receive Political Power. The Hispanic leadership (?) claims that the vast majority of U.S. Citizens of Hispanic Heritage do support the criminal ILLEGALS as strongly as the Hispanics leadership (?)!

I would suggest that the self appointed leadership of any Heritage Group main concern is to receive monetary gains and be able to furnish votes for their Elitist Politicians in return for power.

I, ____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

As a federal employee, one’s first act is swearing to uphold the Constitution. For a U.S. government employee, the ultimate superior is not the division director, agency head, or even the president, but rather the Constitution. This makes public servants different from agency contractors, indeed different from any private-sector employees, and even unlike most state and local officials. Yet even today, the oath is not controversial.

Yet our COUNTRY is overrun with illegal aliens and our Constitution gurantees us secure borders.

FEEL VIOLATED?

US citizens have been betrayed by elected officials.

What Constitutes an “Invasion”?

The Founders had invasion in mind. They mentioned it four times in the Constitution, without ever defining it. Here are the citations:

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 15: The Congress shall have the Power (to) provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article IV, Section 4, Paragraph 1: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestics Violence.

If twenty million illegal aliens here are not an invasion, then I don’t know what is.

Yet for the second time in resent years, you have many elected officials clammering for AMNESTY including the President of the USA.

After this law was signed, The poll asked if people would support a similar law in Texas, and there was an unbelievable combined 76% yes vote. This is really quite amazing coming from an informal poll of a huge city. Demonstrate all you want, but that is a number you won’t put a dent into.

The Fed’s response is not do their job and protect the international border, but complain about the desperate laws being passed because of their inaction. If they don’t like the law, then protect to boarders. Beware because Texas is next.

The Texas Legislature needs to act quickly and pass a similar law; lock up the Feds on multiple fronts and stop this ridiculous take-over of our country by all these illegals.

The biggest racists of all are the people who say a particular segment of society (Illegal Immigrants) should receive preferential treatment over those who do things legally. Now that’s Racist!

How much has American society changed since 1986 when approximately 2 million illegals were granted “amnesty”?

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How much will American society change in the next 24 years if current trends continue?

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In 1986, all the Democrat supporters of the Simpson-Mazzoli bill promised the amnesty law would be a one-time pardon when opponents protested it would simply multiply illegal immigration.

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Approximately 2 million illegals were granted “amnesty”.

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As expected, the current number is estimated to be from 12-20 million illegals.

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Using a current minimum estimate of 12 million illegals (6 times the number in 1986), that implies another amnesty granted this year would result in approximately 72-120 million illegals in 2034.

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In other words, the U.S. will become a poverty-ridden third-world

welfare society.

If proponents of amnesty were so skilled at predicting the future and all the discriminatory nightmare scenarios, why didn’t they see the obvious that the amnesty of 1986 would result in a huge influx of illegals exactly as forewarned by opponents of amnesty in 1986?

The truth is they did but ignored it as they were more concerned over the interests of foreign friends and relatives than they were about the interests of native born taxpaying citizens.

How could anyone dispute this bill? It’s imposition of law, as simple as that. Anyone who opposes this bill has something to hide. Illegal immigrants don’t hand themselves in! US authorities have to be seen to be doing their job don’t they?

Everyone is blaming Obama for this problem – he inherited it! What did Bush ever do? Nothing. It’s a simple problem of supply and demand. As long as people hire (the demand)them to mow their lawns, keep their kids, clean their office buildings, restaurants etc. the supply will be there. Quit hiring them!

arizona canNOT usurp something the federal government is not doing…granted, we don’t want TWO entities doing the same thing…but we do want at least ONE entity doing SOMETHING…if the feds feel their toes are being stepped on THEN START DOING YOUR EFFING JOB!!!!!

“Dear Governor Brewer – Thank you for giving hope to so many Americans that we too can turn the tide against illegal immigration. I have already written my Texas legislators asking them to follow Arizona’s lead with strict illegal immigration laws. You have given us hope (where there was none) that we CAN improve the security and quality-of-life for our families. Very Sincerely, Charles Patrick”

bet most of the people in favor of this law are also the people that yell and scream, …too much government, government take over…” can someone tell me what an “illegal immigrant” looks like? Suggest then that everyone show their papers, even blond-blue-eyed people just in case they slipped over the Canadian border or made the long trip via Mexico. I bet most people never thought that what happened in Nazi Germany would happen here, “Show me your papers!” Facist pigs, boycott Arizona!

Looks like the majority agrees with Arizona. Awesome! I hope we get that law here in Texas. We are tired of the illegal invastion and our federal government hasn’t done jack about this. I hope those illegals are starting to self deport. I also am glad employers are going to be getting cracked down that hire illegals.

According to Rasumussen, 60 percent of Americans are for the Arizona law.

We now have members of a racial minority group (Hispanics) who have aligned themselves with citizens of another country (Mexico) due to their own racism and are against the interests of their own fellow countrymen because of their own racism.

[i]Yes being an illegal immigrant is of course illegal but I think what most people are arguing is that it will cause racial profiling of legal, american citizens that are of Mexican or latino descent. Should I carry my birth certificate that says I was born in Houston just because I’m of Mexican descent when I travel to AZ on business. My actions or my appearance will not be enough to tell you or any law enforcement official that I am legal or illegal.[/i]

Sorry Erik, the fluency of your post and your knowledge of how the U.S. works is plenty to convince me that it is highly probable that you are legal. You are free to go now.

Please call the White House Comment line and tell President Obama that you applaud and support the newly signed Arizona law to identify and remove illegal aliens in their state. We do not need Immigration Reform (Amnesties for illegals), we need Immigration Enforcement.

It doesn’t matter what the language of the law says if, in practice, it’s enforced discriminatorily. And umpteen Supreme Court cases have held that laws that give the cops unfettered discretion to pull you over for any reason, but are de facto used for racial profiling purposes, are unconstitutional.

This law allows a cop to pull you over if he or she has any suspicion that you’re an illegal immigrant. What basis do you think they have to know that by looking at you? Your haircut?

bet most of the people in favor of this law are also the people that yell and scream, …too much government, government take over…” can someone tell me what an “illegal immigrant” looks like? Suggest then that everyone show their papers, even blond-blue-eyed people just in case they slipped over the Canadian border or made the long trip via Mexico. I bet most people never thought that what happened in Nazi Germany would happen here, “Show me your papers!” Facist pigs, boycott Arizona!

Posted by: Ana at April 26, 2010 11:38 AM

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Um, nice argument…. Equating protecting the borders of the country to government takeovers of auto companies, banks, and health care is a bit of a stretch, dont’ you think?

I am glad to see the Chronicle post a poll like this. Now all you have to do is keep the poll posted on the front page here at the top, where everyone can find it without having to dig for it somewheres else.

Arizona may have just woken up a sleeping giant in the Hispanic vote and turned it almost entirely to the Democrat’s side.

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I agree and I think the Republicans that are loud and vocal for this law are gonna get it handed to them in November. Most Hispanics are against illegal immigration, but the outright racial language in this bill is disgusting. If health care was supposedly the Democratic Party’s “Waterloo”, this is going to be the Republican’s Armageddon. Adios muchachos!

We are blessed that the Republicans have decided to commit slow political suicide. The know-nothings know nothing about demographics, and dare not read Census data, which has been deemed an evil encroachment on civil liberties. Like the dinosaurs, they had their days of dominance, but their small brains kept them from surviving changes in the environment. These dinosaurs will disappear just as suddenly.

It doesn’t matter what the language of the law says if, in practice, it’s enforced discriminatorily. And umpteen Supreme Court cases have held that laws that give the cops unfettered discretion to pull you over for any reason, but are de facto used for racial profiling purposes, are unconstitutional.

This law allows a cop to pull you over if he or she has any suspicion that you’re an illegal immigrant. What basis do you think they have to know that by looking at you? Your haircut?

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The ink isn’t dry yet, no one has been profiled under it, and yet you are speaking as if it’s already happened. You believe the law will be APPLIED in that manner, however that does not make the law itself unconstitutional. Arizona leaves that up to the officers. And in one instance, if a court finds that an officer acted only based on race, the illegal immigrant will be let go and given millions of dollars in restitution much to the delight of you and your liberal buddies.

This law is pure genius. How many billions of dollars are spent building the south border wall not to mention labor, equipment, and maitenance? With the AZ law, police officers can CHEAPLY rid the country of illegal immigrants. If ALL states did this, the illegal immigrants would quickly realize that it would be a waste of their money, time, and risk of life to enter into this country if they were caught trying to enter into society here. You walk the street, have a card. You want medical attention, get a card. You want to work, have your card. You buy a car, have your card. You get a traffic ticket, have your card. You buy groceries, have your card. You don’t speak English, have your CARD. You like to eat Mexican food, have your card. Sooner or later, there will be a problem with counterfiet cards. But with computer technology, a quick check can verify. This law will be later known as the “Have your Card” campaign. It’ll outdo the credit card commercial, “Don’t leave home (Mexico) without it”.

I disagree with Nate…that the Republicans are at risk due to their stance against illegal immigration: 1) 50 million Latinos in the U.S. are illegal or legal immigrants and/or underage…and cannot vote in the first place. 2) The 20 million Latinos who are eligible to vote do so in very low percentages (that’s why Mexico politics have been so corrupt for so long…Mexicans don’t vote).

Amnesty advocates huff and puff their chests that the Latino vote will punish the Republicans…but it ain’t gonna happen. Mexicans don’t vote.

do not believe you will find 20 or so million illegal aliens from anywhere but Mexico, the other illegals are smart enough to learn english, and at least try to fit in, they do not go through a neighborhood and destroy it from the bottom up, they are not in the streets demanding we take care of them from the cradle to the grave. If the mexicans were not so filthy and badly behaved, they would not be drawing so much attention to themselves across the nation, but they are speading all across the nation bringing destruction with them and people notice, dud, they need to go home and start at the end of the line like people all across the world have to do, allowing illegals the right to stay here just because they managed to swim across and make it to a city so they could start dropping anchors, is a slap in the face to the rest of the world and honest people willing to come here correctly, stand in line, pay their fees and try to fit in, not change us to their low way of life.

Posted by: Betty at April 26, 2010 08:55 AM

-Another brilliant post by our resident hate-mongerer, Betty. Seriously, when are they going to make you Grand Dragon?

BTW, the above comments by “Ryan” about the Chronicle are not from me. Different Ryan. It was bound to happen.

This is simply Arizona residents becoming fed up with the lack of enforcement at the federal level. Taxation without representation. Arizona does not want to become California. California is flooded with illegals and their anchor babies and its getting worse. I would never move there or even bring my money and spend it there as it will just support illegals. Im glad to see Brewer has some guts! Americanism rules!

I think that THESE wHITE FOLKS !!!!! ARE RACIST!! WHo cleans their houses? who serves them in restaurants? who are the people that do blue collar jobs white folks are too proud to do? ah-ha !!! I think the law is pure racism